Construction of water cooling towers



Oct. 11, 1938. R. B. ELMER CONSTRUCTION OF WATER COOLING TOWERS Filedoct. 20, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet l &Q R

ll lllllll l Il llll- 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll ll ll llllll lllw R. B. ELMERCONSTRUCTION OF WATER COOLING'TOWERS Filed Oct. 20, 1937 J v hi4 M Oct.11, 1938.

CONSTRUCTION OF WATER COOLING TOWERS Filed Oct. 20, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet4 0.11,193s. RBELMER 2,132,939

CONSTRUCTION OF WATER COOLING TOWERS Filed Oct. 20, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet6 Patented Oct. 11, 1938 i if UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE coNs'rrwo'rroNoF-wma coo WERS Robert Benjamin Elmer, Westminster, London,

England, assignor of two-thirds to L. G. Mouchel and Partners, Limited,Westminster, London, England, a British company and Pierre JosephGerard, Westminster, London, England Application October 20, 1937,Serial No. 169,954 7 In Great Britain October 28, 1936 9 Claims. (Cl.261 108) This invention'relates to the construction of water coolingtowers.

In the construction of cooling towers as hitherto carriedout it has beenusual to carry the irrigation system on posts anchored at the bottom ofthe pond. The irrigation system comprises main water distributingtroughs orpipes and a large number of baffles or louvers carried belowto permit the use of relatively unskilled labour.)

According to the presentinvention the louvers of the irrigation systemare mounted between side frames and are held in position in spacedrelationship by means of distance pieces also insertedin the side.frames. In this way a number of louvers may be assembled as a unit whichcan be erected or dismantled as a whole.

The louvers may .be mounted in the side frames so that the assembly oflouvers and frames forms a unit which can be built as such into theirrigation system of the tower, or the side frames may be first erectedin position in the tower and the louvers then subsequently mounted inthe side frames.

The distance pieces may be shaped and fitted so as to 'hold the louversin the desired spaced relationship and at the required inclination.

The side frames may be'rectangular, having two long sides, and thedistance pieces are so shaped that they can be introduced and sliddenbetween the long sides of the frame.

The inner opposing edges of'the long sides of the frame may have groovesin which the top and bottom edges of the distance pieces can engage, or,alternatively, the top and bottom edges of the distance pieces may begrooved'to engage the inner opposing edges of the long. sides of theframe. The louver assemblies may be supported in vertically spaced rowsin the tower on supporting posts, which are in turn supported'on mainsup.- ports. 7 V The supporting posts may be arranged in pairs connectedtogether at intervals by removable pins, the louver assemblies beingcarried directly on said pins.

The invention will be illustrated by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a partly assembled unit;

method of supporting the units in position in a water cooling tower;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken online 4-4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3 of a somewhatmodified arrangement;

. Fig. 6 illustrates the different construction of louvers in thelowermost series inthe tower;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1--1, Fig. 6; Fig. 7a illustrates amodification of Fig. 7; Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating amodified method of assembling the louvers;

Fig. 9 is adetail view illustrating a modification;

1 Figs. '10 and 11 are detail views illustrating a 1 constructionalmodification of the supporting posts; 4 Fig. 12 is a further detail Viewof another modification of a supporting post;

Fig. 13 illustrates an elevation of a water cool- .ing tower, part ofthe wall of which is broken away to disclose details of the interiorconstruction; 7 a

Fig. 14 is a cross section to an enlarged scale taken partly on linel4-I4 and. partly on line l4.-l4, Fig. 13.

According to Fig. l the louvers a are built up into units ofsubstantially truncated sector-shape of which the side frames 12, b forthe louvers form the radii, disposed, when the units are in position inthe tower, radially in the tower. The side frames b, b are rectangularand are closed at the ends by distance pieces 0, c which are screwed or,otherwisesecured in position. Fixed distance pieces 6 are screwed inposition at intervals intermediate the end pieces 0, c and act as strutsor stays. The ends of the louvers a are introduced between these framesand are held in position therein by means of distance pieces 1 the topand bottom edges of which engage in grooves d, 11 formed respectively inthe inner opposing edges of the frames b, b These distance pieces f arein the form of parallelepipedons having the ends inclined at an acuteangle to the base corresponding to the inclination to the vertical whichthe baflles are to take up when in- Fig. 2 is a vertical detail viewshowing the.

er a comprising a rectangular frame similarto the frames b, b isdisposed transversely to the.

louvers to strengthen the structure and/or to connect together some orall the louvers in one unit. This stiffener g is shown as extending onlyfor part of the length of the unit but may extend the whole length ofthe unit. The louvers a are passed through and secured in the stiffenerg-by distance pieces in the same way as in the side frames b, 22 Theupper edges of the louvers are shaped so that whenin position in thetower they present a substantially horizontal surface to the fallingwater drops, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Additional strength may be imparted to the unit by disposing astrengthening member (not shown) between the supports and parallel tothe louvers.

Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating how the louverlike assemblies of Fig. lareaconnected together in vertical spaced relationship in the water'cooling tower. Beams hextending radially across the tower and supportedby the shell of the tower and, if desired, also by posts (not shown)anchored at the bottom of the tower serve to support verticals'pacingposts i on which the unit assemblies .are carried. Thearrangement is shown more clearly in Fig. 3, in which figure the posts2' are shown as comprising two separate posts 2', z". bolted at top onopposite sides of the beam hand havingape'rtures at spaced verticalintervals through which pins k are loosely passed "so as to be capableof easy withdrawal and replacement. Two rectangular frames of adjacentunit assemblies are disposed between the posts 1', 2" and are carried onthese pins 70. Only two rows of unit assemblies are shown in Figs. 2 and3, but it will be understood that a large number of such rows are builtup in the interior of the tower. Fig. 4 illustrates a section taken onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and shows the louvers of two adjacent assembliesextending in opposite directions and also shows the distance pieces fbetween each pair oflouvers engaging in the grooves d, al of the framemembers.

The end of the unit. assembly which abuts against the shell of the toweris preferably shaped to conform with the contour of the tower and issecured in position bya copper strip I (Fig. 2) which is screwed at topand bottom to the side members of the frame. This arrangement enablesthe outermost louver to be placed very close to the shell of the tower.V

If desired a number of radial supporting beams such as 71 may beprovided at vertically spaced intervals and the vertical spacing posts2' may be in lengths connected between these various beams.

In a modification the unit assemblies of louvers and side frames may besupported by the main posts which normally support the distributiontroughs, transverse beams and the like. In this modification the unitassemblies would be supported between two main posts and the superposedrows of units would be spaced vertically *by means of packing pieces,distance members,

bolts or the like.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the adjacent side frames ofadjacent units are disposed in the same horizontal plane. Thisarrangement requires a cutting of the louvers into lengths which arefairly accurately predetermined. In order to avoid this necessity and topermit louvers to be employed which need not be cut so accurately theadjacent side frames of ad- .jacent units may be disposed below oneanother. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 5. From this'figure itwill be evident that theends a of the louvers a in both the adjacentside frames may project freely.

The lowest rows of louvers of the stack may be of triangular shape, asis usual in water cooling towers. These lower triangular louvers mayalso be carried in frames which are similar to those above described.Triangular louvers in the lower rows are illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7and are denoted by the reference letter a v In the construction shown inFigs. 1 to 5 each assembly of louvers frames b, b This arrangementenables the louvers tobe pre-assembled in the side frames so thattheunit thus formed can be placed complete into the. irrigation system.The arrangement of the triangular louvers shown in Figs. 6 and. 7 issomewhat different. Here adjacentends of two oppositelydirected seriesof louvers a a are mounted ina single frame has can be seen clearly inFig. 7. .It is to be understood, however, that these triangular louverscan. also be carried in separate frames 1), 13 as shown in Fig. 7a. p

The louvers shown in Figs. 1 to 5 canalso be mounted in the manner shownin Fig. 7, as will now be described with reference to Fig. 8.

According to this figure the frames b, b are first mounted by themselveson the supports in the toWer.,

The louvers are then assembled in theframes as shown, with the aid ofdistance pieces as above described, the ends of adjacently disposedlouvers "tures at vertical intervals to receive timbre pins non whichthe supporting frameworks b, b are carried.

The construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is again modified in the formshown in Fig. 12. In this figure metal brackets p are bolted at verticalintervals to the posts 111. by means of bolts q. In this modificationthe frames b, b are carried in the brackets 29.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a Water cooling tower inwhich the irrigationsystem'comprises louvers mounted between side frames according totheinvention. It is tobe understood that Figs. 13 and 14 are not drawn toscale and are only diagrammatic in order to illustrate the generalarrange ment. For example, a greater number of rows of louvers would beprovided in an actual tower; the rows of louvers shown in Fig. 13 arelimited in order to make the general arrangement clearer. In Fig. 13. I0is the shell of the tower made of reinforced concrete erected over thecooling pond II' and provided near its base with air inlets 12. Thewater to be cooled is led through the shell is carried between two ofthe tower at l3 and centrally upwards into the main distribution troughsH which are supported by the main posts IS. The bottoms of these troughsare provided with a series of apertures through which the water can dropon to the splash cups l6 beneath the troughs l4, and thence on to thesystem of louvers disposed below. These louvers are shown in thebottomhalf of Fig. 14 and are denoted by the reference letter a, the methodhere adopted of assembling the louvers being as described with referenceto Fig. 8. The lowermost series of louvers are denoted in Fig. 13 by thereference letter a and are of triangular section as described in Fig. 6.

It will be understood that as the water falls on to the successive rowsof inclined louvers it is progressively deflected by reason of theincli-' nation of the louvers outwards towards the shell of the tower.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a water cooling tower a cooling stack comprising a plurality ofpairs of side frames extending across the tower, a plurality of layersof louvers the end portions of which extend respectively-into openingsin the side frames, each pair of which is designed to accommodate onelayer of louvers, and distance pieces adapted to be inserted in saidopenings and to engage said louvers. whereby to hold the latter in thedesired inclined position in spaced relationship between the sideframes.

2. In a water cooling tower according to claim 1, the said side framescomprising upper and' lower longitudinal bars in spaced relationshiphaving grooves in theiropposing edges in which the top and bottom edgesof the distance pieces can engage.

3. In a water cooling tower according to claim 1, the said side framescomprising upper and lower longitudinal bars in spaced relationship anddistance pieces, the top and bottom edges of which are grooved to engagethe inner opposing edges of the said bars.

4. In a water cooling tower according to claim 1 means forv stiffeningthe layers of louvers comprising stiffening members extcndinglongitudinally of each layer of louvers and between the side frames.

5. In a water cooling tower according to claim 1 supporting posts forthe louvers and side frames of the cooling stack and main supports forthe supporting posts.

6. In a water cooling tower a cooling stack comprising a plurality ofpairsof side frames extending across the tower,a plurality of layers oflouvers the end portions of which extend respectively into openings inthe side frames each pair of which is designed to accommodate one layerof louvers, thus providing a plurality of louver assemblies, distancepieces adapted to engage in said openings in the side frames and toengage said louvers whereby to hold the latter in the desired inclinedposition in spaced relationship between the side frames, supportingposts for the louver assemblies, means for supporting the louverassemblies in vertically spaced rows on the supporting posts, and mainsupports for the supporting posts.

7. In a water cooling tower a cooling stack comprising a plurality ofpairs of side frames extending across the tower, a plurality of layersof louvres the end portions of which extend respectively into openingsin the side frames, each pair of which is designed to accommodate onelayer of louvers, thus providing a plurality of louver assemblies,stiffening members for the louvers extending longitudinally of eachlayer of louvers and between the side frames, distance pieces adapted toengage in said openings in the side frames and to engage said louverswhereby to hold the latter in the desired inclined position in spacedrelationship between the side frames, supporting posts for the louverassemblies, means for supporting the louver assemblies in verticallyspaced rows on the supporting posts, and main supports for thesupporting posts.

8. In .a-water cooling tower a cooling stack comprising a plurality ofpairs of side frames extending across the tower, a plurality of layersof louvers the end portions of which extend respectively into openingsin the side frames each pair of which is designed to accommodate onelayer of louvers, thus providing a plurality of louver assemblies,distance pieces adapted to engage said openings in the side frames andto engage said louvers whereby to hold the latter in the desiredinclined position in spaced relationship between the side frames,supporting posts for the louver assemblies arranged in pairs,

pins passed through apertures in the pairs of supporting posts on whichthe louver assemblies are directly supported in vertically spaced rows,and main supports for the supporting posts.

9. In a water cooling tower a cooling stack comprising a plurality ofpairs of side frames extending across the tower, a plurality of layersof louvers the end portions of which extend respectively into openingsin the side frames, each pair of which is designed toaccommodate onelayer of louvers, thus providing a plurality of louver assemblies,distance pieces adapted to engage in said openings in the side framesand to engage said louvers whereby to hold the latter in the de-

